Seat Frame For A Folding Chair

ABSTRACT

A seat frame for a folding chair includes a support rail of an increased size that extends from a bottom edge of the seat frame toward a central area of the seat frame. The support rail is used for placing a seat cushion of the folding chair thereon. A plurality of through-holes is formed on the support rail, and a plurality of threaded holes is formed through a bottom of the seat cushion corresponding to the through-holes. When the seat cushion is placed on the support rail, the threaded holes are in alignment with the through-holes, and a plurality of fasteners are engaged via the through-holes with the threaded holes so as to directly fix the seat cushion on the support rail of the seat frame. The strength of the seat cushion for sustaining a load can be thereby enhanced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a seat frame for a folding chair, and more particularly to a folding chair having a backrest and a seat cushion including a foam material, the seat cushion being directly fixed on a seat frame.

2. The Prior Arts

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a conventional folding chair. A seat cushion A of the folding chair includes a cushion portion and a wooden base A1. The cushion portion has multiple layers of foam or like soft materials enveloped by a layer of leather. A plurality of internally threaded rivets B is then used to fix the cushion portion onto the wooden base A1, thereby forming the seat cushion A.

The metal seat frame C has a support rail C1 at the periphery thereof Usually, a width h1 of the support rail C1 is only about 1 cm. When the seat cushion A is assembled with the seat frame C, fasteners having larger diameters can not be used as fixture. As a result, Z-shaped brackets D are used to fix and support the seat cushion A. As shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion A is placed on the support rail C1 of the seat frame C. A side of the bracket D overlaps with a bottom side of the support rail C1 whereas another side of the bracket D overlaps with a lower surface of the base A1 of the seat cushion A. A plurality of fasteners E is then inserted through the brackets D to engage with the internally threaded rivets B of the base A1. The seat cushion A can thereby be securely fixed onto the brackets D.

However, the seat cushion A is not directly fixed on the seat frame C. Instead, the seat cushion A is placed on the support rail C1 and fixed with the brackets D. In turn, the brackets D are only fixed with the seat cushion and do not have any locking connection with the seat frame, which only acts to clamp the brackets D. As a result, after the seat cushion is used for a long period of time, the brackets D may deform, rust or loosen, which may deteriorate its fixing with the seat cushion. The seat frame of the conventional folding chair therefore cannot provide strong support for sustaining heavier load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a structure in which the seat cushion is directly fixed on the seat frame so as to overcome the foregoing disadvantages regarding the assembly between the seat cushion and the seat frame, and increase the bearing load of the seat cushion.

To achieve the objective mentioned above, a seat frame for a folding chair according to the present invention includes a support rail of an increased size that extends from a bottom edge of the seat frame toward a central area of the seat frame, the support rail being used for placing a seat cushion. A plurality of through-holes is formed on the support rail, and a plurality of threaded holes is formed through a bottom of the seat cushion corresponding to the through-holes. A plurality of fasteners is engaged via the through-holes with the threaded holes so as to fix the seat cushion on the seat frame.

The support rail has an increased width allowing engagement of the fasteners for directly fixing the seat cushion on the support rail of the seat frame. As a result, the seat frame has enhanced strength for sustaining a load thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating a conventional folding chair;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a folding chair having a seat frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the folding chair of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is another exploded view illustrating the folding chair of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a seat cushion 2 of a folding chair include a wooden base 21 formed from plywood or other wood material, a plurality of layers of foam or like soft material disposed on the wooden base 21 and leather encapsulating the wooden base 21 and the foam or like soft material. Studs securely fixed the wooden base 21 with the leather. A backrest cushion 1 of the folding chair has a structure similar to that of the seat cushion 2.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are explosive views showing a folding chair having a seat frame 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The seat frame 3 has a size corresponding to the seat cushion 2. A bottom edge of the seat frame 3 includes a support rail 31 of an increased size that extends toward a central area of the seat frame 3. More particularly, the support rail 31 has an extended width h2 of about 1.8 cm for improved support. However, the extended width h2 is not limited to 1.8 cm (the support rail of a conventional folding chair is about 1 cm). The seat cushion 2 is placed on the support rail 31. In order to directly fix the seat cushion 2 on the seat frame 3, a plurality of internally threaded rivets 4 or threaded holes is formed through the base 21 of the seat cushion 2, which respectively correspond to a plurality of through-holes 32 formed through the support rail 31 of the seat frame 3. A plurality of fasteners 5, such as screws, can be respectively engaged via the through-holes 32 with internally threaded rivets 4 or threaded holes so as to attach the seat cushion 2 on the support rail 31 of the seat frame 3. If necessary, the seat cushion 2 can also be removed from the support rail 31. Because the seat cushion 2 is directly fixed on the support rail 31, the seat cushion 2 has enhanced strength for sustaining a load thereon.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. 

1. A seat frame for a folding chair, comprising: a support rail of an increased size that extends from a bottom edge of the seat frame toward a central area of the seat frame, the support rail being used for placing a seat cushion of the folding chair thereon, wherein a plurality of through-holes are formed on the support rail, a plurality of threaded holes are formed through a bottom of the seat cushion corresponding to the through-holes, and a plurality of fasteners are engaged via the through-holes with the threaded holes so as to fix the seat cushion on the support rail of the seat frame, whereby enhancing a strength of the seat cushion for sustaining a load. 